Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-27
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.

The Assembly yesterday refused to pass the
bill placing the Deputy TO the State superin-
tendent of Public Instruction upon the same
rate of compensation as the Deputies to all the
other State Offices are allowed This is grave
mistake and unqualified Injustice There is
not member of the Legislature who can give
q sensible reason forthis childish discrin inaton
against one of the most important departments
OF the State Government. here is not only
vast amount of work in the office at the pre- ept
time, especially since the commencement OF
publication of the state series of school books
but it is a class of work which requires brains
and education. Generally, positions which
specially require educational qualifications are
REGARDED as entitled to at least full pay, but in
this instance the rule appears to be insanely re-
veTsed. The proposition to remove this dis
elimination against the Office of the head OF the
schools of the State is not new. 1t is an injus
tice and senseless condition of the law which
has constantly been complained Of state
uoerintendent Carr sought 10 have the stig-
ma removed, but the work of the Office
was not nearly so great at that time
as now. During Mr.. Cars ineumbency
State There are now $500. There were then
2l6 40 children in the State, and now there are
$50 9IS. There were in 1879 only 2,7i3 schools
and now there are 3505. The census children
At the close of Mr.. Csrrs term his record of cor
respondence shows the receipt of 500 letters per
month The number received now frequently
exceeds 80 per day. In 1879 there were 81
In State Superintendent Campbelrs final re-
port he said on this subject "An unjust and en-
tirely indefensible discrimination against this
Office has existed which the incoming Le1isla-
ture should promptly remove. and undoubtedly
will do so when attention is called 10 it. The
Constitution Section 2. Article M. providing
forthe election Of Superintendent of Public
Instruction, declares further that He shall
receive a salary equal to that of the Secretary
OF State 1t goes without saying that his dep
NY should, in like manner rank in point of
compensation with the Deputy Secretary of
State fhis, however, has not been the case.
The salary of the deputy in this Office is but
81 500 per annum. as against =. 400 for other
deputy state officers. The duties and esponsi-
bili,ies appertaining TO the deputyship. the rank
and dignity of this Office, and equity, all war
rant me in recommending that the salary of the
DEPUTY Superintendent be made equal to that
paid every other deputy State officer, viz s. 400
per annum-
state Superintendent Weicker in his recent
report fore.bly said upon this subject: The
saisrv OF the Deputy Superintendent of Public
INSTRUCTION is only 81 800 a year, while that of
the deputy of every other department OF the
state Government is 81, 4e0 . year No other
deputy does more work for the State, and it W II
not be claimed that the functions of any ere
superior TO his in importance Why this IN
Justice? This matter was referred 10 III strong
language by my predecessor in his last report
Let the Legislature be consistent, and either
reduce the saiary standard of all other depart
nlent deputies. or raise that of the State Eiuea-
tioasl Department to its proper position